Chapter 1- The Raid
Late at night in La Plata County, Colorado, a reporter who had been active in reporting the hostage situation on a religious ranch, stood in front of the camera after gunshots were heard from inside the ranch. "We are reminded of Jim McKay's words from Munich. 'Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized.' Let's hope it's not the latter as we wait to hear the fate of the women, children, and FBI agent still inside the building." Then an explosion behind him and he turned to see the building with all the hostages go up in flames.
One week earlier
"911 Emergency, what is your emergency?"
In a whispered voice, a female's voice said, "He comes into my bedroom and lays with me. He says its God's will I'm-I'm only fifteen and I'm not the only one. Please help me."
"Tell us about the 911 call," said Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Reid.
"Umm I believe the 'He' they refer to is the Church's leader Benjamin Cyrus," answered Nancy Lunde, a social worker with Child Protective Services.
While glancing at a file Dr. Reid replied, "Benjamin Cyrus…no criminal record...no record at all really. What else do you know about him?"
"It's rumored he is practicing polygamy and forced marriages."
"Any idea on who the caller is?" Asked Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss.
"Uhh, Jessica Evanson is the one who the age fits but we can't be sure; so I negotiated interviews with all the children. It wasn't easy." Ms. Lunde said with a shake of her head.
"Well considering their view on outsiders," Agent Prentiss said while handing her weapon back to Dr. Reid, "it would be best if you didn't identify us as FBI. Just use our real names and introduce us as child victim interview experts."
Ms. Lunde nodded in agreement as they pulled up to the ranch. As they watched the people who's fashion sense got caught in the fifties, Agent Prentiss thought to herself about how the people at the ranch would take it if they found out she was a lesbian. There was no more time to dwell on the fact as they then arrived to the main building where they saw a man reading a book and leaning on the side of the stairs.
They exited the car and approached the man. "I'm looking for Mr. Benjamin Cyrus," said Ms. Lunde.
"You found him."
"I'm Nancy Lunde. We spoke on the phone regarding the allegation.
"Savages they call us, 'cause our manners differ then theirs."
"We didn't come to hear you cite scripture Mr. Cyrus."
"Actually its Benjamin Franklin," Dr. Reid pointed out.
"Emily Prentiss. Spencer Reid. Their child victim interview experts."
"How far from God's word must we have strayed for there to be the need to invent a job called child victim interview expert?"
"We wish we didn't have to be here." Agent Prentiss said solemnly.
"So do we. But you are welcome nonetheless. The children are in the school as I indicated."
"Thank you." Agent Prentiss and Ms. Lunde walked up towards the school while Dr. Reid continued to gaze upon the solar panels.
"You're using solar power?" He asked.
"Yeah, we are completely self sufficient: electricity, food, water. Ben Franklin said that 'God helps those who help themselves.' You look surprised."
"Uh no, impressed actually."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For admitting that." Then Mr. Cyrus gestured to Dr. Reid to walk towards the school.
In the school Dr. Reid and Agent Prentiss interviewed girls together while Ms. Lunde interviewed on her own.
"What do you do here on the ranch?" Agent Prentiss asked a blonde fifteen-year-old named Jessica Evanson while her mother watched on protectively.
"We go to school, we do our chores, and we treat ourselves and each other with respect God demands." She answered dutifully and respectfully.
"But you have never been off of the ranch?" Agent Prentiss prods.
"I brought Jesse here when she was two," her mother supplied.
"You have talked to lots of children in your work. Tell me are their lives somehow better than ours?" Asked Jessica.
"We devote ourselves to God, that doesn't mean we aren't devoted ourselves to our children." Her mother added.
"We are not here because of your religious beliefs," Agent Prentiss said with a shake of her head.
"Then why are you here?" Jessica asked.
"We received a phone call alleging that an adult male member of your church was having inappropriate relations with the younger women here," Agent Prentiss answered honestly.
"You are talking about Cyrus," Jessica asked
"What makes you say that?" Agent Prentiss asked.
"Jesse come on-" her mother tried to get her to leave but was interrupted by her daughter.
"Is it inappropriate for a husband to share a bed with his wife?"
"You are married to Cyrus?" Agent Prentiss asked slightly appalled.
"Yes. Cyrus is my husband and a prophet. It is an honor to bear his children."
"Jessica, you are fifteen years old," said Dr. Reid "the state of Colorado requires parental consent."
"She gave consent." Agent Prentiss said referring to Jessica's mother.
The door was slammed open and a few men armed came in and ordered the three "child services workers" to stand.
"What's going on?" Ms. Lunde asked as the three of them complied with the demands.
"We just got a very strange phone call from a news reporter." Mr. Cyrus said while Dr. Reid and Agent Prentiss are patted down. "Is there anything you want to tell me, about a raid maybe?"
The two undercover FBI agents look of true bewilderment convinced Mr. Cyrus that they were unaware of the raid. "They don't know," he said calmly.
Everyone was quickly led to a tunnel that went from the school to a bunker under the chapel.
"What's going on?" Ms. Lunde demanded of Dr. Reid.
"I don't know, just stay calm."
The sounds of battle from above could be heard from the bunker as police officers exchanged gunfire with the ranchers.
"Alright move quietly and quickly," Mr. Cyrus directed the frightened people. "Have faith, stay together, remain calm. Everyone remain calm there is nothing to fear here."
Agent Prentiss and Dr. Reid came across a stash of guns and ammo in the basement. "Where did all these guns come from?" Agent Prentiss asked Dr. Reid.
"I don't know, JJ checked with the state police."
"This is ridiculous," Ms. Lunde states.
"Its alright, just stay calm," Agent Prentiss instructed.
Mr. Cyrus and his second in command Christopher Cole stood ahead of the group, discussing the situation. "They're trying to breach the front door," Mr. Cole informed Mr. Cyrus.
"Alright remain calm," Mr. Cyrus reassured everyone. "Stay quiet, God will protect you."
Mr. Cyrus and Mr. Cole left the bunker and headed to the front door to try and calm the situation.
"They're the state police," Ms. Lunde said to Agent Prentiss and Dr. Reid. "I'm an officer of the state."
"Well there's nothing we can do right now," Agent Prentiss said.
"I can talk to them," Ms. Lunde said with determination and turned to leave the bunker.
"No you can't, it's dangerous," Agent Prentiss called after her while attempting to follow her through the children. "Nancy stop!" Agent Prentiss yelled after her. "Nancy!" She yelled as Ms. Lunde made her way through the doorway. Agent Prentiss and Dr. Reid's pursuit stopped when an armed man blocked them from leaving.
Mr. Cyrus and Mr. Cole entered the foyer where the barricaded door prevented the police from entering. The police's gunfire entered the chapel and the ranchmen were forced to duck. "Cease fire," Mr. Cyrus demands. He continued to yell it at the police and at his fellow ranchmen over and over again. But nobody listened or no one could hear him over the gunfire. "Go away! We have women and children here!" He ordered the police but his orders went unheeded. Ms. Lunde then enters the foyer.
"Mr. Cyrus, let me talk to them," she said right before a bullet breaks the glass and killed her. Mr. Cyrus looked at her sympathetically before he returned to the bunker.
"Do not fear, we are on the side of the righteous," Mr. Cyrus said to everyone.
"Where's Lunde," Agent Prentiss asked.
"It wasn't us," Mr. Cyrus defended and realization washed through the FBI agents.
"What? You can't shoot it out with the cops! You have children here," Agent Prentiss said angrily.
"I didn't start this," Mr. Cyrus defended. "I'll take the roof, you take the tunnel," he ordered Mr. Cole and they went their separate ways.
Mr. Cole succeeded in moving the police still inside the school out of the school but one of the police officers was hit with a bullet and he fell to the ground. Another officer attempted to move him to safety and another officer was hit in the leg.
"Hold your fire!" Mr. Cyrus screamed from the rooftops. "Hold your fire!" He commands again and everyone stops shooting. "We're giving you a chance to pull back, please take it!" He said to the SWAT officers. The SWAT unit leaders looked at his men and one of them informed that one of the officers was in bad shape.
"Okay! We're pulling back!" The SWAT leader replied. "Pull back!" He ordered while giving the hand signal to pull back. They retreated successfully and the news spread to the bunker.
"They're pulling out! They're pulling out!" A ranchman said excitedly.
"Not for long," Dr. Reid said to Agent Prentiss.
Since the threat was over, Dr. Reid and Agent Prentiss were moved to a side room and separated from everyone else on the ranch.
Meanwhile the bodies of the dead are collected and arranged respectfully while Mr. Cole gave Mr. Cyrus, and by default, Agents Prentiss and Dr. Reid for they were in the same room, the report of the dead. "Miles is dead. He was locking the door when they shot him. Lauren and Robert were asleep in their bed, the bullets came in through the wall." Mr. Cole said angrily.
"What about the baby?" Mr. Cyrus asked truly concerned.
"I have her," Jessica said entering the room and holding a little girl about four years old. "She was at the school." Mr. Cyrus walked over to them and wiped the tears off the young girl's face.
"Oh hello darling, it's going to be alright. Mommy and Daddy have gone to God. Okay? It's going to be okay." He turned his gaze to Jessica. "Take her to the temple and pray," he instructed and Jessica nodded dutifully before exiting. Turning to Mr. Cole he gave further instructions. "Distribute guns and ammo. I prayed this day would never come but it has. God will see us through."
"Yeah," Mr. Cole said somberly before doing as instructed. Agent Prentiss looked disappointed at Mr. Cyrus's plan of action. The news of firefight hit the press shortly after which meant their team found out about their predicament and all Agent Prentiss wanted to do was let her girlfriend know she was alright.